BSN Denver NFL Mock Draft 3.0: A trade at the top and a new hope in Denver

With very little time remaining from now until the NFL Draft’s opening round on Thursday the 25th, there is still tons of uncertainty in this divisive 2019 class.

Seemingly a guarantee the last several months, even the Arizona Cardinals first selection doesn’t feel like a complete lock anymore. After the Cleveland Browns surprised us all a year ago, it’s hard to know who and what to believe at this time of year, as everything could be on the table at this point.

With that, we’re unveiling our second to last mock of the year, with plenty of trades and a bonus portion of the second round up to the Broncos 41st pick. Here’s how it all unfolded. 

1) Oakland Raiders (from Cardinals): Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

*Projected trade: Cardinals get picks 4 and 24 and a 2020 first*

Jon Gruden loves Murray, and with five first-round picks in the next two drafts, the Raiders can afford to go get their quarterback while adding a very marketable piece for when they move to Las Vegas. 

2) San Francisco 49ers: Nick Bosa: DE, Ohio State

This pick stays the same as Bosa gives the Niners the elite edge rusher they seek to put their defense over the top.

3) Miami Dolphins (from Jets): Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State 

*Projected trade: Jets get picks 13 and 48 and a 2020 first*

The Jets are so desperate to trade down they’re even willing to do so with a division rival. While the Fins get their quarterback of the future and aren’t scared off by Haskins’ lack of mobility considering new head coach Brian Flores’ New England roots.

4) Arizona Cardinals (from Raiders): Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama

*Projected trade (see above)*

Despite trading down, the Cards still get the best prospect in the draft while adding two future first-round picks. If the plan in Arizona is to follow the Rams-McVay union, then letting Kliff Kingsbury develop Josh Rosen, as McVay did with Jared Goff, makes plenty of sense. 

5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Allen, OLB, Kentucky

The Bucs have a tough decision here with Allen and Devin White staring them in the face. Allen ends up being the pick due to his added versatility and pass-rushing ability. 

6) New York Giants: Montez Sweat, EDGE, Mississippi State 

The Giants don’t budge and take a physical edge rusher with plenty of athleticism. Sweat fits what Dave Gettleman has looked for in the past out of his defensive ends. 

7) Atlanta Falcons (from Jaguars): Ed Oliver, DT, Houston

*Projected trade: Jaguars get pick 14, 45 and 117*

The Falcons have never been afraid to pull off trades and go get Oliver to pair with Grady Jarrett, forming an elite pass-rushing duo on the interior. Oliver could also provide long-term insurance for Jarrett if Atlanta can’t sign their franchise-tagged tackle long term. 

8) Detroit Lions: Rashan Gary, DL, Michigan

It should be an edge rusher or tight end for Detroit, with White as a potential dark-horse selection. Matt Patricia values versatility and goes with the talented Gary who could be special if developed. 

9) Buffalo Bills: Brian Burns, EDGE, Florida State

Burns is too good to pass up for the Bills who need a devastating pass rusher for their defense. D.K. Metcalf could also be the pick here, though his medicals could see him drop.

10) Denver Broncos: Drew Lock, QB, Missouri

The Broncos have two of their most beloved prospects still around with White and Lock staring them in the face. 

On one hand, Vic Fangio needs a rangy linebacker to make his scheme work, but will John Elway, who’s historically undervalued the position, pull the trigger with Lock still available?

The Broncos spent two days with Lock last week, and the lack of buzz out of those visits was pretty interesting—a hint that maybe the organization wants to keep quiet on their rumored love of Lock that goes way back.

Having talked to the Missouri signal caller, he’s very impressive and mature, the type of personality that a quarterback needs in the quarterback meat-grinder that is the Mile High City. Lock also fits what new coordinator Rich Scangarello is looking for with his athleticism and big arm.

He’s not a great value pick, but he also doesn’t seem likely to still be around at this point, if he is, don’t be surprised if Elway pounces. 

11) Cincinnati Bengals: Devin White, LB, LSU

White’s fall ends here, as Cincy desperately needs a linebacker and White has the talent to be an all-time great if developed. With new head coach Zac Taylor, going offense would make more sense, but White is just too good not to take. 

12) Green Bay Packers: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

With the best pass rushing outside linebackers gone, the Packers add Hockenson who can be a valuable asset for their offense as a run blocker and safety blanket for Aaron Rodgers. 

13) New York Jets (from Dolphins): Clelin Ferrell, EDGE, Clemson

*Projected trade (see above)*

The Jets dropped a long way to get a future first and add a second round pick this year, they’re very lucky Ferrell was still around and run to the podium to take him. 

14) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Falcons): Jawaan Taylor, OT, Florida 

*Projected trade (see above)*

The Jaguars trade down works out to perfection, allowing them to add cheap young prospects and still get their top target in Taylor, a plug-and-play right tackle to complete their offensive line. 

15) Washington Redskins: Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

Washington needs a quarterback, and with Jay Gruden’s ability to develop the position, they take a big swing with Jones, who checks off lots of boxes and also carries some accuracy and arm strength concerns. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder on this one. 

16) Carolina Panthers: Jonah Williams, OT, Alabama

The Panthers fix their line with the most NFL-ready and versatile blocker in the draft.

17) New York Giants (from Browns): D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

The Giants would’ve loved Jones to fall to them but instead get to replace Odell Beckham Jr. with the top receiver in the draft.

18) Minnesota Vikings: Andre Dillard, LT, Washington State

The Vikings need help everywhere on their line and find the perfect tackle for their Gary Kubiak-inspired zone-blocking scheme. 

19) Tennessee Titans: Garrett Bradbury, OC, NC State

The Titans get one of the grittiest players in the entire draft in Bradbury, who can be a plug-and-play center or guard to help elevate their attack the way Quenton Nelson did for division rival Indianapolis. 

20) Pittsburgh Steelers: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan

Bush is a worthy replacement of Ryan Shazier’s and would fit nicely in the Steel City. 

21) Seattle Seahawks: Chase Winovich, EDGE, Michigan

The Hawks would love to trade down and are always outside the box thinkers, they go with Winovich here who has the type of tenacity, production, and athleticism they covet. 

22) New England Patriots (from Ravens): Noah Fant, TE, Iowa

*Projected trade: Ravens get picks 32 and 64*

With six picks in the top 101, the Patriots move up to get Fant who gives them a dynamic receiving threat. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz’s connection with Bill Belichick makes this pick an even more natural fit. 

23) Houston Texans: Cody Ford, OL, Oklahoma 

The Texans would be ecstatic to have Ford drop to them, making this the third consecutive AFC South team to draft an offensive lineman in our mock, as everyone tries to replicate what the Colts did in 2018.

24) Arizona Cardinals (from Raiders): Dalton Risner, RT, Kansas State

*Projected trade (see above)*

It’s about time the Cardinals addressed their horrible offensive line, plugging Risner in at either right tackle or guard. The Colorado native would also provide a strong leader in their locker room.  

25) Philadelphia Eagles: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, CB/S, Florida

The Eagles need cornerback help as well as an upgrade at safety, Gardner-Johnson could be a stud slot corner and a phenomenal safety paired with Malcolm Jenkins. A perfect pick to plug as many needs as possible. 

26) Indianapolis Colts: Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson

This should be Wilkins’ floor, who’d be a terrific addition to the budding defensive core Indy’s started to build.

27) Oakland Raiders (from Cowboys): Andraez ‘Greedy’ Williams, CB, LSU

The Raiders would much rather address their edge-rushing issues but no one worth drafting this high is still available, so they take Williams, who has tackling concerns but is also a prototypical shutdown corner. 

28) Los Angeles Chargers: Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State

Butler fell right into the Bolts lap, giving them a potentially unguardable threesome of big wideouts. 

29) Kansas City Chiefs: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington

The Chiefs need to add depth at corner if opponents will be playing them from behind as often as they did last season. Murphy is versatile, physical and has supreme ball skills, making him a great value pick here. 

30) Green Bay Packers (from Saints): Johnathan Abram, SS, Mississippi State

With Adrian Amos manning the deep middle, the Packers add a devastating in-the-box player to revamp their safety group. 

31) Los Angeles Rams: DeAndre Baker, CB, Georgia

You can never have enough cornerbacks, and Baker is a safe pick who could be a high-level contributor off the bat. 

32) Baltimore Ravens (from Patriots): Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

*Projected trade (see above)*

The Ravens still get a dynamic weapon in Brown after trading down. A backfield of Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram with Brown running reverses and fake jet sweeps would be a nightmare to defend.

Round 2 

33) Arizona Cardinals: N’Keal Harry, WR, Arizona State

34) Indianapolis Colts (from Jets): A.J. Brown, WR, Ole Miss

35) Oakland Raiders: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama

36) San Francisco 49ers: Deionte Thompson, FS, Alabama

37) New York Giants: Will Grier, QB, West Virginia

38) Jacksonville Jaguars: Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama

39) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jerry Tillery, DT, Notre Dame

40) Buffalo Bills: Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Mississippi State

41) Denver Broncos: Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College